Chris2112

I think this signifies the point where Fodera have really lost it IMO... Time was when the dedicated, averageman could stretch to a Fodera. A few years of saving and he could live the dream. Now, look at them. I don't buy the "bass making isn't an easy business" argument, as everyone else seems to manage without having $24,000 basses. Alembic used to be fantastically expensive but at least you always went through a dealer, took advantage of a special offer and got some haggled-in extras. Add to that the fact that the bass is made [i]exactly[/i] how you want it with no $1000 upcharge for a different radius, you'd get a bass for at least 3/4 of the intial price. The fact that Fodera now have their most expensive models as direct order only shows to me they're wanting to take money from the hands of their dealers and they're also wanting to rip off the customer as much as possible - you can guarantee this direct order won't come with the usual discount! The fact that they're charging an extra £4000 for a truss rod and a different type of metal bridge just illustrates how bloated and excessive they have become. I was a long time defender of Fodera's prices, saying "It's their shop, you can choose not to shop there" but they truely now seem detached from reality. Extremely uncool - perhaps even more embarassing when you consider the likes of Wal, Status, Phil Kubicki etc etc will make you a better bass anyway!

I think the first thing I'd be putting on Stingray would be a graphite neck! I think the Market for upgrades to EBMM basses has been severely limited by Sterling Ball and his insane belief that his product cannot be made any better! For years Ball and his policies have been a talking point but I think now he has turned into a joke and a gross parody of his former self.

Aren't the Barts in Modulus basses specially made for Modulus? In the same way that the Zon pickups are? Irrespective of this, I think the bass is best just left "as is". Surely the humbucker should be enough to get by on? I just think that by modifying the bass you could be shooting yourself in the foot and doing away with a good studio bass.

It has those special inlays! I believe, since it is considered a "premium" signature model that it will be handcrafted in Japan.

If anything, I think in general the Japanese make by far better instruments than say, the USA - their skill and quality control is amazing. My brother has an Ibanez K7 and a Fender Malmsteen Strat, both are Japanese made and absolutely stunning. However, the GWB is just insane, at £3000. Thats nearly enough for a new Wal!

I remember when I first heard that they were going to be making the Gary Willis basses in Japan for a huge price. I was quite put off - I'd have considered the old 4 string one.

I just keep thinking of roasted peanuts when I hear of these roasted necks! Of the roasting Sterling Ball has gotten over them!

What a stunner! Lovely top wood on that!

For me, it's the Kubicki Ex Factor...the pinnacle of bass design, over 20 years old and we've still not done better than this! I absolutely love them!

Urgh, "bass noodling" at its worst. I love a good youtube bedroom slap fest like the rest of us, but this really struck me as aimless and uninspired. The recording was pretty poor and doesn't show off the MM well, as it sounds hollow and lifeless. I didn't enjoy that.

It's always a shame when people receive bad customer service.

[quote name='Dubs' post='941328' date='Aug 31 2010, 08:13 PM']Depends on year/condition, but you could probably expect a bit of change from £1300, even for a very nice condition early Thumb. In the current market you could probably expect to be able to find one for about £900 without too much looking, even cheaper if you're willing to wait.[/quote] I recall there was a fretless NT 6 string Thumb here for £1300 a while ago - that just shows you the huge mark up you get in shops! As it is, NT thumbs are pretty common and finding a good used one shouldn't be too much bother, but £1300 is a lot. I had a BO Thumb from 1999, with a wenge neck and the old neck profile. I loved it, and it definitely wasn't a neck dive nightmare, although I wear my basses "Mark King" style - if you like to wear them low it could be an issue.

I certainly do check out the gear on stage. If I saw P basses and ampegs, I know the band will probably be pretty bad, or at least not to my taste. It's the same deal if I see a Les Paul and a Marshall. If I were to see a Status or an Alembic plugged into a Trace Elliot head, I'd probably think the band would be pretty good - or even if their material was crap, they'd have awesome chops in rehearsal! I used to see a lot more gear when I worked in a hotel. I remember seeing a hugely professional looking band once, they had their own stage rig and everything, a 20' construct with their own light show. Every piece of kit on the stage was top end too, the bassist had a Fodera Emperor 5 string with a beautiful quilted maple top played through a Genz Benz head and 8x10" cab. I bet he was a great fusion player, although the band's material was probably a load of crap, as it often has to be to get hotel party gigs!

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='937958' date='Aug 27 2010, 11:42 AM']Precisions were so called because they have frets,and can be played easily with ............erm precision.[/quote] I know, but they've still never felt terribly precise to me! Perhaps that is the 60 year old design speaking!

It's good, but I think Rise has the most incredible PIL bassline. One of my favourite songs of all time!

It's a shame to hear they're having this problem as I really, really liked the two TC Electronics bass heads I played through.

[quote name='51m0n' post='935534' date='Aug 25 2010, 12:00 AM']That is properly pornographic and no mistake, mind you I'd feel a bit of a t*t getting it out for a jam at the dog'n'duck [/quote] The owner of that used to be on Talkbass when I used the site. IIRC it has a diamond or some sort of jewel embedded in the board around the 12th position. Not the sort of thing you'd take down the Dog and Bollock for fear you might lose it!

I'd still love to sit down with a Fender Jaco signature and have a proper go of one, rather than just 10 minutes in a shop. I fear though I might be disappointed given that the other fretless basses I like are all high tech, hand made affairs. IIRC Guitar Guitar in Newcastle had one a couple of years ago, one of the most beautiful fenders I've seen!

I think ESP made one called the turbot too! The Precision bass has always been a duff name, as I generally think of P basses and Gibsons when people talk about wooly sounding basses that play badly - there is nothing precise about them! Also, not so much the name but the logo of Low End basses is pretty bad. I remember a discussion on Talkbass where people were discussing whether it was supposed to look like an arse or a scrotum. The luthier chimed in and said it was supposed to look like neither. How embarassing.

I guess on the feelings I get from graphite necks and the kubicki neck is a feeling of near invincibility. That's the stability and strength coming in to play. A friend of mine had a Geddy Lee jazz and it was a great player with a nice sound, but that neck was so thin and frail. Even in the modestly temperate North of England, the neck would shift with the weather. The action was low, but you could put it in it's case on a Monday night and it would be buzzing away on a Tuesday evening!

I remember seeing a Wal on sale at the gallery for £1200 a few years ago. It had some mojo but I recall a year later it would likely have appreciated probably 70% in value. It's a funny old game we're in!

I always thought Michael was a great player. Nothing flashy in Van Halen but rock solid backing and he's definitely a name to drop when you're talking about no frills, solid time rock bassists.